Rohit Sharma becomes world’s No. 1 ranked ODI batter for first time

Former India skipper Rohit Sharma on Wednesday claimed the top spot in the ICC Men’s ODI batter rankings for the first time in his career.

38-year-old Rohit created history as he rose two spots on the back of his superb unbeaten century (121 not out) in the third and final ODI between India and Australia in Sydney where he led his side to an emphatic nine-wicket triumph.

The experienced right-hander was in a damaging mood alongside fellow India legend Virat Kohli (74 not out) as he smashed 13 fours and three sixes on his way to scoring his 33^rd ODI century for his country.

Rohit’s efforts see him overtake Afghanistan dasher Ibrahim Zadran and India teammate Shubman Gill and claim the top ranking for batters in ODI cricket for the very first time, having always held a spot inside the top 10 for most of the last decade.

The former skipper wasn’t the only India player to make some ground on the updated rankings this week, with spinner Axar Patel rewarded for a strong game in Sydney with gains in both the bowling and all-rounder category.

Axar jumped six places to 31^st behind No.1 ranked Rashid Khan on the list for ODI bowlers and improved four spots to eighth overall behind Azmatullah Omarzai on the rankings for ODI all-rounders.

Inside the top 10 for ODI bowlers, there are gains for New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner (up three rungs to fourth) and Australia seamer Josh Hazlewood (up two spots to eighth), while England right-hander Harry Brook improves 23 spots to move to 25^th overall on the list for ODI batters.

There was also some movement on the latest Test rankings following South Africa’s impressive eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi, with experienced spinner Keshav Maharaj the biggest beneficiary on the back of his Player of the Match heroics.

Maharaj gained nine places to obtain a new career-high rating in 13^th place on the list for Test bowlers after nine wickets in the Test, while teammate Simon Harmer rose 26 spots to move to 45^th following his six-wicket haul in the second innings of the same match.

South Africa duo Aiden Markram (up two spots to 15^th) and Tony de Zorzi (up seven places to equal 47^th) were the big movers on the rankings for Test batters following the Rawalpindi Test, with compatriot Kagiso Rabada improving eight rungs to move to 11^th on the list for Test all-rounders.